This odd Willet was found by Kenny Nichols at Bald Knob NWR in Ark. Soft parts colors are nortorious for not conforming to what they should be. I once had a first winter Herring Gull below the dam at Dardanelle that had an adult colored bill even down to the gonydeal spot?
Just to settle the issue, a group of us watched the bird fly-in with full Willet wing pattern. No doubt it was a WILLET;o)